Attachable garment strap

ABSTRACT

An attachable garment strap and fastener assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; an attachment component removably attached to each of the first and second ends, the attachment component being configured to attach the at least one strap to a selected position; and an adjuster component for controlling a length of the at least one strap.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C §119

The present application for patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/088,670 entitled “ATTACHABLE GARMENT STRAP” filed Dec. 7, 2014, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to an attachable garment strap and fastener assembly.

It is known that, for certain strapless garments including strapless or single-strap dresses, tube tops or single-strap tops, strapless bras, bathing or bikini tops, and the like, a removable strap may be provided with a hook for removably attaching the strap to the garment that may include a loop made of fabric, roping, ribbon, threading, and the like, for receiving the hook. For example, a female garment that has a halter top design, where the top or dress attaches around the wearer's neck leaving the shoulders and back of the wearer exposed, would require the wearer to attach brassiere strap hooks to fixed left and right front loops of the brassiere, respectively. However, many conventional removable brassiere straps may prevent wearers from concealing their brassiere straps due to the permanent locations the fabric loops on the interior of a strapless brassiere are located. In some instances, the specific position of the fixed fabric loops may be too far to the side of the brassiere cups and, not being adjustable, may prevent the wearer from concealing the attached strap underneath the wearer's clothing. In addition, permanent or removable brassiere strap adjusters may tend to slip from their original location causing a brassiere strap to increase in length, thereby reducing support.

Accordingly, there is a need for attachable and adjustable brassiere straps to provide adequate support for, e.g., strapless or single-strap garments while minimizing an undesirable appearance or visibility of an undergarment and allowing wearers to personalize their ensemble.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, an attachable garment strap and fastener assembly comprises at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; an attachment component removably attached to each of the first and second ends, the attachment component being configured to attach the at least one strap to a user selected position; and an adjuster component for controlling a length of the at least one strap.

In accordance with additional aspects of the present invention, a method comprises providing at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; removably attaching an attachment component to each of the first and second ends of the at least one strap; and securing the least one strap to a user selected position via the attachment component.

In accordance with additional aspects of the present invention, a method comprises providing at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; removably attaching an attachment component to each of the first and second ends of the at least one strap; securing the first end of the least one strap to a first user selected position via a first attachment component on a front side of a garment; and securing the second end of the least one strap to a second user selected position via a second attachment component on a back side of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brassiere with an attachable garment strap and fastener assembly in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adjuster component of the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attachment component of the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 4(a)-(c) are illustrations of different variations of the attachment component in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a connection between the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly and a strap in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 6(a)-(f) are various front and back views of the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly in use in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a back view of the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly in use in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of attaching the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly to a purse in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of using the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly as a belt in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration of providing a decorative component to at least a portion of the attachment component in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in the drawings. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied embodiments presented in the preceding background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific aspects or features illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

Referring to FIG. 1, aspects of the present invention provide a method and an attachable garment strap and fastener assembly for securing a garment such as a brassiere or a strapless top without being confined to fixed attachment positions on such garment. More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a strap 10 comprising a pair of attachment components 12 removably attached to either at least one strap end with a clip, and an adjuster component 14 as shown in FIG. 2. In some aspects, the strap 10 may be made of a material that resembles a conventional brassiere strap, or of a color or design to resemble an article of outerwear. The strap 10 may also be designed to have a pattern that matches, is identical to, is complimentary to, or coordinates with the article of outer clothing. Further, a plurality of straps 10 may have different colors or different designs thereon, and these straps may be sold alone, or with articles of outerwear, to allow one to form a complete ensemble. As such, among other features, the present invention provides a functional attachable garment strap and fastener assembly which may be worn in connection with various garments (shirts, tops, blouses, dresses, etc.). For optimal strength and support, the strap 10 may be made of a combination of natural or synthetic, elastic or non-elastic materials. Alternatively, the strap 10 may be made of a decorative material including a metallic chain, a woven cording, a metallic cording, a ribbon, lace, leather, roping, and the like, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the strap material may be enhanced with the inclusion of jewels, stones, beading, embroidery, among other decorative materials, or any combination thereof.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a wearer may be able to attach each attachment component 12 located on either end of the brassiere straps in a selected, concealed and comfortable location on, e.g., a strapless garment 16 without being confined to permanent and fixed locations of conventional fabric loops that are usually provided on such garment. The present invention may also allow the wearer to connect the attachment component 12 to a traditional removable brassier strap in order to achieve a more versatile and flexible way to attach to the strapless garment 16 for better concealment, comfort and appearance.

Each attachment component 12 may comprise at least one of a clip, such as a suspender clip 18 shown in FIG. 3, a connection component 20 for connecting with the strap 10, and a connector means 22 for connecting the clip 18 and the connection component 20. It should be appreciated that the connection component 20 may be a zipper, hook and loop fastener, snap button, loop fastener, clip on, button, and any other appropriate mechanism for connecting the attachment component 12 with the strap 10. In one aspect, the connector means 22 may be configured as two parallel loops 22 a and 22 b for receiving a corresponding connection portion of the clip 18 and the connection component 22, respectively. To provide sufficient support and secure strength, loops 22 a or 22 b may be individually adjustable in size, shape, color, and material composition to allow for a flexible connection with the clip 18 and the connection component 22 that may also vary in size, shape, color, and material composition. In another aspect, loops 22 a or 22 b may be configured or adjusted jointly in order to, e.g., achieve additional support strength. For example, either or both sides of the parallel loops 22 a and 22 b may be further provided with an extension that is adhesive in nature to allow further bundling or packaging after loops 22 a and 22 b are connected with the clip 18 and the connection component 22.

Referring to FIGS. 4(a)-4(c), instead of having two parallel loops 22 a and 22 b as shown in FIG. 1, the connector means 22 of each attachment component 12 may alternatively comprise a single loop 22 for connecting the clip 18 and the connection component 20 with one connection point, as shown in FIG. 5, to allow a wearer to conveniently interchange brassiere straps for better concealment, comfort, appearance, and wardrobe versatility. In one aspect, the single loop 22 may be made of different size, shape, color, and material composition such as metal in FIG. 4(b) or fabric in FIG. 4(c). That is, any desired material composition or blend of material compositions, or even different material compositions for different portions, may be used for the connector means 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4(a)-4(c). For example, one or more loops of the connector means 22 may be provided with reinforcement edging made of wear resistance materials such as leather or metal. In some aspects, the connector means 22 may be formed entirely of a non-elastic material.

When wearing permanent or removable conventional brassiere straps, the conventional strap adjusters that are provided to adjust the length of the strap may slip from an original location causing the strap to increase in length, thereby reducing support.

To prevent the strap adjusters from moving, referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adjuster component 14 with teeth that locks the strap 10 into a position with a gripping mechanism may be added to the strap 10 for controlling and adjusting the length of the strap 10 by a wearer. For example, to construct the disclosed attachable garment strap and fastener assembly with the adjuster component 14, a distance may be first measured from the back of a wearer in a spot where a strapless brassiere is worn to over the shoulder, and then to the front side of the brassiere. Then the material may be cut for the straps corresponding to the measured distance, threaded into an adjuster component, such as a suspender adjuster, and sewn into place giving the adjuster component room to adjust in length. Subsequently, the strap may be threaded through the suspender clips on both ends of the strap and sewn into place in accordance with a user desired length.

FIGS. 6(a)-6(f) are various front and back views of an attachable garment strap and fastener assembly for securing a strapless garment without being confined to fixed attachment positions on such garment, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6(a) is a front view showing two brassiere straps 10 connected to any wearer selected locations on an upper edge of each cup of a brassiere garment 16 via attachment components 12. FIGS. 6(b) and 6(c) are back views showing two brassiere straps 10 connected to any wearer selected locations on an upper edge of a back band of the brassiere garment 16 via attachment components 12. Furthermore, FIGS. 6(d) and 6(e) are front and back views showing a single strap 10 connected to any wearer selected locations on an upper edge of either cup or back band of the brassiere garment 16 via an attachment component 12. In another popular strap configuration, as shown in FIG. 6(f), a single strap 10 may pass around a wearer's neck and connect to any wearer selected locations on an upper edge of each cup of a brassiere garment 16 via two attachment components 12, thereby turning the garment into a halter style outfit. It should be appreciated that different connection styles may be created for one or more straps 10 without being limited to the forms or embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly disclosed in the present invention may be used for various purposes. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a wearer may use a connection component 24 to converge two straps 10 at a selected position in the back and form into one single strap which is then connected to any wearer selected locations on an upper edge of the brassiere garment 16 via an attachment component 12. The strap 10, or one or more portions thereof, may vary in width, thickness, color, and elasticity, among other characteristics of the material. The attachment component 12 including a clip component may likewise vary in size, color, shape or material among other characteristics. Moreover, depending upon the purposes, the attachment component 12 may or may not be permanently attached to the ends of each strap 10 and the adjuster component 14 may or may not be attached to the strap 10 to allow the strap 10 to increase or decrease in length. As further shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the attachable garment strap and fastener assembly disclosed in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be used as a purse strap or a belt. To improve aesthetic appeal and better matching with the underlying garment, FIG. 10 shows that a decorative component 26 such as a patterned embroidery patch or jewelry pin may be provided to cover at least a portion of the attachment component 12. Such decorative component 26 may be magnetic or adhesive in nature or otherwise be removably attached to the attachment component 12.

While the foregoing disclosure discusses illustrative aspects and/or embodiments, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope of the described aspects and/or embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, although elements of the described aspects and/or embodiments may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Additionally, all or a portion of any aspect and/or embodiment may be utilized with all or a portion of any other aspect and/or embodiment, unless stated otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachable garment strap and fastener assembly, comprising: at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; an attachment component removably attached to each of the first and second ends, the attachment component being configured to attach the at least one strap to a user selected position; and an adjuster component for controlling a length of the at least one strap.
 2. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment component comprises at least one of a clip component, a connection component for connecting with the at least one strap, and a connector means for connecting the clip component and the connection component.
 3. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein the connector means comprises at least two parallel loops for respectively receiving a corresponding connection portion of the clip component and the connection component.
 4. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein the connector means comprises a single loop for connecting the clip component and the connection component.
 5. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjuster component comprises teeth for locking the at least one strap at a selected point.
 6. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the at least two parallel loops is individually adjustable in configuration and material composition.
 7. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 1, further comprising a decorative component removably attached to at least a portion of the attachment component.
 8. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein the connection component is selected from a group consisting of a zipper, hook and loop fastener, snap button, loop fastener, clip on, and button.
 9. The attachable garment strap and fastener assembly of claim 8, wherein the attachment component is configured to be removably attached to a traditional removable brassier strap.
 10. A method, comprising: providing at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; removably attaching an attachment component to each of the first and second ends of the at least one strap; and securing the least one strap to a user selected position via the attachment component.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an adjuster component for controlling a length of the at least one strap.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the attachment component comprises at least one of a clip component, a connection component, and a connector means, and the method further comprises: connecting the attachment component with the at least one strap via the connection component; and connecting the clip component and the connection component via the a connector means.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring the connector means to include at least two parallel loops for respectively receiving a corresponding connection portion of the clip component and the connection component.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring the connector means to include a single loop for connecting the clip component and the connection component.
 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring the adjuster component to include teeth for locking the at least one strap at a selected point.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising individually adjusting each of the at least two parallel loops in configuration and material composition.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising removably attaching a decorative component to at least a portion of the attachment component.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising removably attaching the attachment component to a traditional removable brassier strap.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the connection component is selected from a group consisting of a zipper, hook and loop fastener, snap button, loop fastener, clip on, and button.
 20. A method, comprising: providing at least one strap comprising a first end and a second end; removably attaching an attachment component to each of the first and second ends of the at least one strap; securing the first end of the least one strap to a first user selected position via a first attachment component on a front side of a garment; and securing the second end of the least one strap to a second user selected position via a second attachment component on a back side of the garment. 